The Duchess of Sussex has said she was informed about “disturbing allegations” about her estranged father in 2018.

In a statement, Meghan said a letter containing allegations against Thomas Markle was sent to the Metropolitan Police that year and subsequently shared with her.

Her comments come after reports that images of child sexual abuse allegedly belonging to her father had been found at his former home in the Philippines, which she said were “deeply” distressing.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Thomas Markle denied possessing child sex images, calling the accusations “sick lies”.

The duchess said: “I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed.”

She said that when she received the letter outlining allegations against her father, she was “given assurance that these were being investigated”.

She added she hoped it could be understood why she had kept her distance from her father and did “not allow him to have contact with our children”.

This was “to protect them”, she said, adding that she had “trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families”.

Meghan described the allegations as “more sickening than one could ever imagine” and said her “sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children”.